Overview
- Peter Mandelson resigned his Labour Party membership, saying he sought to avoid further embarrassment after new DOJ materials were reported to show three transfers totaling $75,000 to accounts linked to him in 2003–2004.
- He said he has no record or recollection of receiving the money, questioned whether the documents are authentic, and repeated an apology to Epstein’s victims while pledging to investigate the claims.
- The released files include an undated photo appearing to show Mandelson in underwear alongside a woman whose face is redacted, as well as 2009 emails in which he told Epstein he was trying to influence policy on a proposed bankers’ bonus tax.
- UK ministers and victims’ advocates urged Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor to share information or testify to help investigators, with the prime minister having backed calls for Andrew to appear before Congress.
- U.S. congressional investigators are reportedly preparing a request for Mandelson to give evidence in Washington, while officials note the multi‑million‑page DOJ release is heavily redacted and includes unverified material.